Means for supplying liquid fuel to the cylinders of internal-combustion engines



H. KENT-NORRIS. MEANS FOR SUPPLYlNG LIQUID FUEL TO THE CYLINDERS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATIO N FILED QCT. 11, I920. I

' Patented May 17, 1921.

UNITE "YATES PATENT @FFMZE.

HENRY KENT-NORRIS, OF NEWBURY, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID FUEL TO THE CYLINDERS F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed October 11, 1920. Serial No, 416,219.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY KENT-NoRnrs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ashdown, Pyle Berkshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Supplyin Liquid Fuel to the Cylinders of Internalombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification. This invention comprises improvements in means for supplying liquid fuel to the cylinders of internal combustion engines and is principally concerned with vaporizing devices comprising auxiliary Vaporizers adapted for use during starting and light running periods. Such devices are particularly useful in engines using crude oils or heavy fuels. These nite at starting, but they ignite efiiciently, during normal running, owing to the high temperature of the vaporizing hamber.

One object of the present invention is to adapt an arrangement of auxiliary vaporizer and hot plate or electric igniter so that such arrangement is utilized only as occasion requires, as during starting, the life of the vaporizer being thereby greatly increased while at the same time increased efiiciency durin normalrunning of the enine is obtaine Also the carrying out of this object enables an igniter of relatively small proportions to be used.

A further object is to provide a vaporizer, preferably of more or less spherical form, with an auxiliary injector directed so as'to deliver its jet on to an ignition device and with a main fuel injector directed so as to deliver its jet, or a portion thereof, on to a art of the interior of the vaporizing 40 chamber. j

Yet another object is to devise an injector valve arrangement of such a nature that the injection of fuel for normal running is automatically taken up by the main fuel inhe auxiliary injector is turned off and to so coordinate the two injectors that when the auxiliary the whole or principal portion of the fuel supply passes through the auxiliaryinjector and no fuel or only very little passes through the main injector. The auxlllary injector may be used at starting and during light running while themain in ector s used during normal running and automati- Hill, Newbury,

fuels are difiicult to igis turned on,

cally comes into operation, or becomes inoperat ve, accordingly as the auxiliary inector 1s put out of or into operation. In order that the invention may be read- 1ly understood, reference is made to'the accompanying drawing which shows, principally 1n central vertical section, a cylinder ead fitted with a vaporizing chamber and fuel 1njectors,.the latter being connected with a fuel pump, in accordance with these improvements.

In carrying the invention into practice, the head a of the engine cylinder b is formed or fitted with a vaporizing chamber 0 c the spherical form of vaporizing chamber shown inw the drawing being preferred, for reasons known to those skilled in the art, and for the reason that it enables the main injector d to be advantageously disposed for the direction of its 'et toward or against a highly heated sur ace. The vaporizin chamber, or the lower portion 0 thereo may be cast in one with the cylinder head a which may be jacketed as shown. he upper portion or half 0 of the spherical chamber may be jacketed and adapted for bolting down on to the cylinder head in correct relation with the lower half. In the head casting there is formed at a suitable angle a housing 6 for the auxiliary injector f and this housing opens into the lower half of the vaporizing chamber. portion a of the vaporizing chamber there is an a erture g in which is secured an igniter. he igniter illustrated is a hot plug, but it may be electrical or of the hot plate Or other variety. In the example shown a cast iron plug h fitted with a flanged steel stem '2, or a. stem carrying a plate, may be inserted and the external portion of this by a flame guard or of the application theigniter device.

plu may be protected dra t screen is, permitting of a flame for heating up If the auxiliary injector cannot be angularly positioned so that its axis passes directly across the chamber to the igniter j, the jet orifice of this injector may be angularly formed or fitted with a deflector I, so that its jet will be delivered on to the igniter j, as indicated. The nozzle portion of the auxiliary injector f is fitted with a lightly loaded valve, which may be a ball mnormally pressed against a seating by a small spring n coiled round a slotted nipple Patented May 1'7, rear.

In the upper tion of the lower v enlarged bore is preferably made in V the heavy 4 tween the brac 0 adapted to prevent the ball from closing the jet orifice when the ball 1s forced from its seat'by the pressure of the snpply.

The main injector d is dispose so that Its axis is at an angle to a prolongation of the axis of the cylinder 6. The jet from this 1njector, therefore, is not. directed fairly through the neck portion p oinlng the vaporizing chamber with the cyllnder b,.but is wholly or partly directed toward a porhalf 0 of the spherical vaporizing chamber. Within the said lower half there may be arranged a hemispherical liner 9 with an aperture for affording communication with the cylinder 6 and so dimensioned that its exterior is situated at a short distance from the interior wall of the lower half 0 of the vaporizing chamber. This gives, in known manner, a heat-insulating space 8 between the liner g and the lower half 00f the chamber, so that during the normal running the liner 9 attains a sufficiently high temperature or retains suflicient heat for igniting the fuel injected by the main injector. The liner 9 may be suspended by a flange r at its upper edge, the flange --1' being seated in a recess in the head castin The valve 25 in the main injector is suitabl of the needle or plunger variety, the nee le or coned end being normallyseated under the pressure of a heavy springu acting upon the stem or plunger 12. The latter is guided for the greater part of its length in a .close fitting sleeve to and at its outer end may carry a cap ac slidabl en-- gaging the exterior of the sleeve w an acting as a centering device and abutment for spring a. The loading of the latter is preferably adjusted by means of washers 3 of redetermined thickness beet a and the head of the spring a. At the inner end of the sleeve or ody portion to of the main injector d the diameter of the bore is enlarged so that an annular chamber surrounds the stem or plunger 1; and the fuel inlet passage 1 com municates with this annular chamber.

. movable nipple 2 the lnner end of which is formed main injector d ing through the radial grooves in the lower end of the liner 3. Thus the fuel is delivered to the cone valve t at ri ht angles to the axis thereof, and a well-directed jet of wellatomized fuel is insured. It is only necessary to have a slngle pump 5 for serving the two injectors d and f the delivery pipe 6 of this pump being branched to serve the auxiliary injector and a stop cock 7 being inserted in this branch for shutting off the auxiliary injector f when desired. When starting the engine, the ignition device, if of the hot plate or hot plug variety, is heated to the proper temperature, and the stop cock 7 is opened so that the pump 5 may serve the auxiliary injector f. Upon revolving the crank shaft, the pump makes a delivery, the pressure of which readily opens the valve m in the auxiliary injector so that a jet is forced through the auxiliary injector on to the igniter j. N 0 fuel passes through the main injectord, however, because the pressure, being relieved by the delivery through the auxiliary injector f is insuflicient for overcoming the load of the heavy spring 24 upon the stem or plunger '0 of the main injector valve t. The injected fuel strikes the igniter j and the ensuing combustion starts the engine. During a 95 suitable period following this actual start the engine is run by means of the auxiliary injector f and the vaporizing chamber 0 c, or the liner 9 therein acquires a high temperature from the combustion of the succes- 100 sive charges. The stop cock 7 is then closed so that fuel is no longer supplied to the auxiliary injector f. Thereupon the pressure rises in the supply pipe 6 to the main injector d and such or plunger 0 as a ram and raises it against the action of the spring a so that fuel is injected through the main injector at the correct moment in each cycle The jetv from the main injector d or aportion of such jet, 110 passes across the vaporizing chamber, and if it is not ignited uring such passage, it will be ignited upon striking the lowerhalf c o the vaporizing chamber, or the liner 1 therein. In order to prevent an air lock in the i mam in ector d an air relief passage may be is not necessary when the lighter e s are employed.

It will be apparent that the action of the upon the turning off of the is entirely automatic as also is 125 auxiliary injector 7 upon the opening of the stop cock 7. It will be apparent, also, that ,only one of the injectors f d can be in operation, or in effective operation at any given time, as the putting into 130- pressure acts on the stem seating valve controlling emme operationof either of the injectors results in the cutting out or virtual cutting out, of

the other injector.

The invention is therefore, quite distinct from known arrangements employing pilot or auxiliary jets for effecting the ignition of main jets, as for example arrangements in which a main jet is injected into a vaporizing chamber axially of the cylinder and an auxiliary jet of relatively small proportions is injected into the. said chamber transversely and immediately before the injection of the main jet.

1 claim: 1

1. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector disposed so as to direct its jet on to a hot part of the interior of said vaporizer, and controlling means operative upon said injectors whereby only one of them can be in effective operation at one time.

2. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a hot part of the interior of said vaporizer, aloaded self-seating valve controlling the jet delivery of said main injector nozzle, said valve being adapted for automatically opening under a predetermined fuel supply pressure and a control valve for the auxiliary injector.

3. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector nozzle, an igniter disposed in' said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector nozzle, a lightly loaded selfseating valve disposed in said auxiliary nozzle and adapted for automatic opening under pressure of the fuel supply, a cock controlling the supplv to said auxiliary nozzle, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a hot portion of the interior of said vaporizer, and a loaded self the jet delivery of said main injector nozzle, said loaded valve being adapted for opening under a predetermined fuel supply pressure.

4. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination a vaporizing chamber in two parts, an inner part having a contracted neck providing communication with the cylinder head on which the vaporizer is mounted and an outer part fitted on to said inner part, an-igniter mounted in the outer part of said chamber, an auxiliary injector mounted in the inner part of said chamber and directed across the chamber away from said neck and toward said' igniter, a main injector disposed so as to direct its jet on to a hot part of the interior of said vaporizer, and controlling means operative upon said injectors whereby only chamber adjacent to said neck, an auxiliary injector on said chamber, an igniter disposed on said chamber in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector and controlling valve means operative upon said injectors in such manner that only oneof them can be in effective operation at one time, substantially as set forth.

6. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary 1nj ector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a hot part of the interior of said vaporizer, a cone valve seated in the jet orifice of said nozzle and so that an area of said valve is free for access by a pressure fuel supply, a stem on said valve, guiding means inclosing said stem and making sald area efiective underpressure' for lifting said valve, a loading spring operative upon said valve to seat it, pressure supply means for said auxiliary and main injectors, and a control cock on the supply to said auxiliary injector.

7. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary 1njector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a part of the interior of said vaporizer, a cone valve seated in the jet orifice of saidnozzle and so that an area of said valve is free for access by a pressure fuel supply, a stem on said valve having a reduced-portion adjacent to said cone valve, guiding means inclosing the larger diameter portion of said stem and making said area effective under pressure for lifting said valve, a loading spring operative upon said valve to seat it, pressure supply means for said auxiliary and main injectors the pressure supply being admitted to an annular space in said main injector surrounding the reduced portion of said stem, and a control cock on the supply to said auxiliary injector.

8. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary insaid vaporizer, a cone valve seated in the jet' orlfice of said nozzle and so that an area of said valve is free for access by a pressure fuel supply, distributer means in-connection with said. valve and adapted to, direct the supply to said valve angularly to the axis thereof, a stem on said valve, guiding means inclosing said stem and making said area fuel supply, a stem on said valve. a loading spring operative pressure for lifting said spring operative upon said valve to seat it, pressure supply means for said auxiliary and main injectors, and a control cock on the supply to said auxiliary injector.

9. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a part of the interior of said vaporizer, a cone valve seated in the jet orifice of said nozzle and so that an area of said valve is free for access by a pressure valve having a reduced portion adjacent to said cone valve, a guide casing inclosing said stem and leaving an annular space around said reduced portion and making said area effective under pressure for lifting said valve, a sleeve surrounding the reduced portion of said stem and formed with external longitudinal passages communicating with notches formed in the end of said sleeve, a spring operative on said sleeve to press it toward the seat of said valve, a loading spring operative upon said valve to seat it, pressure supply means for said auxiliary effective under valve, a loading and main in ectors the pressure supply being admitted to the annular space around the valve stem in said guide casing, and a control cock on the supply to said auxiliary injector.

10. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising In combination an auxiliary inect0r, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a part of the interior of said vaporizer, a cone valve seated in the jet orifice of said nozzle and so that an area of said valve is free for access bya pressure fuel supply, distributer means in connection with said valve and adapted to direct the supply to said valve angularly to the axis thereof, a removable nipple for said nozzle, said ni ple being formed with the jet orifice an valve seat and containing said distributer means, a stem on said valve, guiding means inclosing said stem and making said area effective under pressure for lifting said I upon said valve to seat it, pressure supply means for said auxiliary and main injectors, and a control cock on the supply to said auxiliary injector.

11. Internal combustion engine vaporizer ector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer 1n the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as to direct its jet on to a part of the interior of said vaporizer, a loaded self-seating valve controlling the jet delivery of said main injector nozzle, said valve being adapted for opening under a pre-determined fuel supply pressure, a casing for said valve, a controllable vent on said casing, a control valve for the auxiliary injector, and pressure supplymeans connected with said auxiliary and main injectors.

12. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination an auxiliary injector, an igniter disposed in said vaporizer in the path of the jet of said auxiliary injector, a main injector nozzle disposed so as ,to direct its jet on to a hot part of the interior of said vaporizer, a loaded self-seating valve controlling the jet delivery of said main injector nozzle, said valve being adaptedfor automatically opening under a predetermined fuel supply pressure, a self-seating valve in the nozzle of said auxiliary injector adapted to be opened by the pressure of supply, a single source of pressure fuel supply, pipes branching therefrom to the respective injectors, and a control cock on the branch serving the auxiliary injector.

13. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination a somewhat globular vaporizing chamber, having an opening therein communicating with the engine cylinder, a main injector nozzle mounted on a portion of said chamber distant from the cylinder, and directed on to a portion of the interior adjacent to said opening, an igniter mounted on a portion of said chamber distant from said cylinder, an auxiliary injector mounted on said chamber and disposed so as to direct its jet across said chamber on to said igniter, and fuel control means associated with said injectors, said means being adapted for permitting of the effective operation of only one injector at any time, substantially as set forth.

14. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination a somewhat globular vaporizing chamber having an opening therein communicating with the engine cylinder, a main injector nozzle mounted on a portion of said chamber distant from said cylinder and directed on to a portion of the interior adjacent to said opening, an igniter mounted on a portion of said chamber distant from said cylinder, an auxiliary injector mounted on said chamber and isposed so as to direct a jet across said chamber and on to said igniter, a self-seating valve in sald main injector adapted for opening under a pre-determined pressure of fuel supply. a back pressure valve in said auxiliary injector, this valve opening readily under pressure of the fuel supply, and a control cock controlling the fuel supply to said auxiliary injector substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. Internal combustion engine vaporizer comprising in combination a vaporizing chamber having an inner part cast in one with a cylinder head and an outer part fixed on as a cover to the inner part, which has an opening for communication with the cylinder, an igmter disposed in the outer part,

a main injector dis osed inthe outer part and directed toward an interior'surface of the inner part, an auxiliary injector disposed in the inner art and directed toward said igniter, and uel control means associated with said injectors said means being adapted for permitting of the effective operation of only one injector at any time, substantially as set forth.

HENRY KENT-NORRIS. 

